Electrically operated massaging device



Oct 1933- M. ANDIS 1,28,512

ELECTRICALLY OPERATED MASSAGING DEVICE Filed May 14, 1931 VENTORATTORNEY-S Ritented Get. 3,

, 1,928,6 2 7 p pLEc'rarcALLy ornaarnn MASSAGING pnvron MathewAndislRacine, Wis. I I Application May 14, 1931. V. Serial N0.537,261

mama (cries-4i)- a My invention relates toimprovements in electricallyoperated massaging devices.

Objects of my invention are to provide a simple, inexpensive, durable,and conveniently op-. erated massaging mechanism. j v

More specifically stated,'itis my objectto prof videan, electromagneticnrassaging ,device in which a: vibrator, preferably in the form. of anone-metallic flexible bell, may be connected directly with :an armaturewhich maybe vibrated I Withafrequency equal to that of an alternatingcurrent, such, for example, as a sixty cycle current. 'A further objectis to provide means for varying the massaging effect without change of ovbrating frequency vby providing an adjustable supporting member adaptedto bear upon the person of the operator or patient in such a man nerasto limit the impacts of the vibrating bell.

Also," to provide means whereby different massaging tools may be quicklysubstituted for the bell ordinarily employed.

'Inthe drawing: Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved massaging.tool, showing theregulator in an intermediate position of adjustment,and with dotted lines indicating a; forward position of adjustment. forlight massaging operation.

Figure 2 is a similar View with the side wall of the casing removed, andwith the adjustable regulator shown in sectiondrawn to a planeintersecting theaxis of the regulator and massaging'bell. f I

Figure Sis a sectional view drawn to line13--3 of'Figure'l; v v i I Likeparts are identifiedby the same reference characters throughoutthe-several views;

The portion 10 of the casingfhouses the electromagnet 11 and theportiong12 is reduced, this portion having inwardly curving sides, andits inner face being abruptly reduced to form the shoulder 13, wherebythe portion12 can be convenientlygrasped by the operator. One of thelever 14 controlling the circuit of the electromagnet 11. The switch maybe of any ordinary type, and it'is therefore not illustrated in detail.It is sufficient to state that it controls the circuit 1 through theelectrical conductor 15' at 5d the break indicated at 16 in Figure 2.

.flexion will occur within the handle portion, .du e

sides of the portion 12 is provided with .aswitch' 12 by clampingsc'rews23. This arm 22 is 'ofiset at 2%, and an armature plate 25 issupported by the offset portion opposite one or more pole. pieces of theelectromagnet '11 and held resilient- 1y by the arm 22 at a shortdistance therefrom, whereby when an alternating current is sent throughthe coil of the magnet the armature. will be alternately attracted andrepelled as the polarity changes. By employing a coil o'flimited extentupon a pole piece-of soft ironor ,other readily demagnetizable material,magnetic lag will be reduced. to a minimum andthe armature canbevibrated in correspondence with thefrequency of an alternating current.p The shouldered portion 13 of the casing is located at asufficientdlstance from the electromagnet to allowthe'olisetportion 24of the arm 22 to extend through the intervening space and freely vibratetherein in accordance with :the movement of the armature. Flexionwillnecessarilyoccur at bothendsof thespring to a greater extent, than inthe intermediate portion 24, since the magnetic pull will beexerted'more nearly at a right angle to the end portions. The greatest80 tothe greater distance from the armature .with correspondinglyincreased leverage, and therefore the armature is made extremelysensitive and quick in its response as compared with armatures supportedby short springs which do not extend into the handle portion of amagnetenclosing casing. The two fields or areas of flexion permit a moreor less independent reaction when the magnet is deenergized, and alsopermit the armature to move toward a position parallel with the magnetpoles :by an initial flexion of the armature supporting end of thespring preparatory to the .major movement of the armature toward thepoles by flexion of the portion of the spring within the handle; Therelatively stifi intermediate portion 24 is but slightlyflexed, itsmovement being substantially a bodily movement. Also, the elongationoiwthe supporting spring, which becomes possible by its extension intothe handle, permits of a considerable elongation in the stroke of theapplicator or massaging-tool '30. The massaging tool30 preferablycomprises a rubber bell having a relatively thin-flexible margin 31 andhaving a crown portion secured by a connecting post 32 directly to thearmature plate 25. For convenience in assemblya screw 36 may have itshead embedded in the rubber composing the crown of the bell, the screwbeing locked in the post 32 by a nut 37, whereby the bell is maderemovable to facilitate the replacement or the substitution of avibrating tool of different form.

The casing is formed with a tubular boss 40 through which the post 32extends, and an annular regulating ring 41 is supported by arms 42 in aposition concentric with the mouth or margin 31 of the bell by aclamping ring 44 which engages the tubular boss 40. This clamping ringis a split ring, provided with projecting ears 45 which may be pressedtogether by a clamping screw 46 to rigidly connect the regulator withthe casing boss 40. The clamping ring has sufficient width to allow itto be thus clamped to the boss in various positions of axial adjustment,whereby the ring 41 may be adjusted outwardly to a position where thevibrating bell will just contact with the skin of the patient at thelimit of its outward stroke, and may also be reversely adjusted to apoint where it will operate merely as a steadying device while allowingthe full impactive or vibratory effect of the bell to be exerted uponthe skin of the patient. Between the two extremes any desired degree ofimpactingpressure of the bell upon the skin may be obtained. Thebell-shaped tool will preferably be employed for the reason that duringthe retroactive strokes suction will be exerted, thereby increasing theeffect upon the circulation and facilitating opening the pores of theskin.

'While I have described my invention as intended to be used with analternating current, it will be obvious that if desired it might beoperated by an interrupted current and that, therefore, either a directcurrent or an alternating current might be employed and used inconnection with any ordinary interrupter. Such interrupters being wellknown, it is not deemed neces sary to illustrate or describe such adevice in detail.

I claim: I

"1. An electrically operated massaging device comprising the combinationwith a housing having a reduced handle portion extended from the upperpart of the'housing, of an electromagnet in the housing portion providedwith an armature disposed for vibration in a plane perpendicular to theaxis of the handle portion and having an outwardly projecting applicatorsupporting post, and an armature supporting spring having one endsecured within the handle portion, said spring having a downwardlyoffset intermediate portion and an end portion secured to the armature,the connecting wall of the housing and handle portions being spaced fromthe electromagnet sufficiently to permit free vibration of the spring inthe intermediately offset portion thereof in correspondence with flexionin the end portions.

2. An electrically operated massaging device comprising the combinationwith a casing having a magnet housing portion and a handle portion,

of an electromagnet in the housing portion, an associated vibratoryarmature in said portion out of line with the handle portion, a springhaving one end secured within the handle portion and its other end insupporting relation to the armature, the intermediate portion of saidspring being offset and relatively resistant to flexion as compared withthe end portions, and an applicator detachably connected with thearmature.

3. An electrically operated massaging device comprising the combinationwith a casing having a magnet housing portion and a handle portion, ofan electromagnet in the housing portion, an associated vibratoryarmature in said portion out of line with the handle portion, a springhaving one end secured Within the handle portion and its other end insupporting relation to the armature, the intermediate portion of saidspring being ofiset and relatively resistant to fiexion as compared withthe end portions, an applicator detachably connected with the armature,and a steadying annulus concentric with the applicator margin and havingan adjustable support exterior to the housing and movable while theapplicator is being vibrated.

4. An electrically operated massaging device comprising the combinationwith a casing body having a tubular boss projecting laterally from oneend portion thereof, an electromagnet within the body, a vibratoryarmature between the electromagnet and said tubular boss and providedwith a post extending therethrough, an applicator detachably connectedwith the post, a sleeve in sliding adjustment upon the outer surface ofthe post, and an annulus supported from the sleeve in a position toserve as a steadying member in spaced relation to the applicator.

5. An electrically operated massaging device comprising the combinationof a casing body having a tubular boss near one end and a handlelikeextension at the other end, an electromagnet within the casing body, anintermediately offset armature supporting spring having one end securedwithin the handle portion and having an armature secured to its otherend, a post connected with the armature and extending through saidtubular boss, an applicator connected with said post, and a steadyingannulus spaced from the outer margin of the applicator and adjustablymounted upon the outer wall of the tubular boss.

6. A massaging device comprising the combination with a casing having ahollow extension adapted to serve as a handle, an electromagnet withinthe casing capable of polarity reversal in response to alternatingcurrent impulses, an armature having a resilient supporting armintermediately offset and connected within the handle at a suificientdistance from the armature to allow the latter to vibrate in tune withthe alternating current impulses, and an applicator having a post-likeconnection with the armature, said casing being provided with a tubularboss through which said post extends in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to the handle extension, whereby said armature and itssupporting spring may be housed within the casing and connected with theapplicator through said tubular boss.

7. In an electrically operated massaging device having a casing providedwith an aperture through which a vibratory post projects and an exteriorapplicator connected with said post, the combination with saidapplicator and casing of a steadying annulus encircling the outer marginof the applicator, and an adjustable support for said annulus mountedexterior to the casing and movable during vibration of the applicator toadvance or retract said annulus with reference to the applicator.

MATHEW ANDIS.

